Roberts Drives Dundee to Chase Dream
January 8, 2019
By Doug Donnelly
Special for Second Half
DUNDEE – The thing that keeps Dundee wrestling coach Tim Roberts motivated isn’t another dual meet victory, matching up with state powerhouse Hudson in a conference meet or hanging another banner inside the Vikings’ gymnasium.
Those things are nice, but what keeps Roberts going in his 20th season as the Dundee head coach is a certain two-time MHSAA Finals-qualifying wrestler from the mid-1980s who won 120 matches for Dundee but ultimately fell short of his goals.
That wrestler was Roberts.
“I’m always trying to prove myself, and I’m always trying to get better,” Roberts said. “When I think of myself as that kid who didn’t place at state, I do much better because I keep that hunger and desire. I need to learn more. I’ve got to get better at this.”
Roberts is already pretty good at what he does – a hall of famer, says Hudson coach Scott Marry, a seven-time MHSAA championship-winning coach himself.
“Coach Roberts is one of the best coaches I’ve ever coached against,” Marry said. “He gets his kids ready mentally and physically. You better have your team ready if you’re going to wrestle Dundee.”
Earlier this season, Roberts reached a career milestone – 500 career wins. He’s led Dundee to six Finals titles and six runner-up finishes, 19 District and 18 Regional titles. He’s coached 32 Individual Finals championship wrestlers and more than 140 all-staters. Under his leadership, Dundee also is approaching 20 Lenawee County Athletic Association titles.
The numbers don’t tell the full story about Roberts, however.
“I could write a book about Tim and how great a coach he is,” said Dundee athletic director Tom Oestrike. “His coaching profile speaks for itself, but what is even more impressive are the type of young men he has helped build in his career – men of selflessness, character and discipline.”
When Roberts wrestled at Dundee, he was a 98-pound freshman who grew to compete in the 126-pound weight class as a senior.
“We were a solid program at the time, (but) winning state was an impossible dream back then for sure,” Roberts said.
“I wasn’t bad at wrestling. I was pretty good. Compared to the guys we have now – I wasn’t as good as them. I thought I was pretty good, but I didn’t accomplish the goals that I wanted to.”
After high school, he enlisted in the Army. It was during that time that he got the coaching bug. He realized he wanted to help young student athletes learn how to get the most out of their careers.
“When I was in the military, I learned a lot about building myself into something and I wanted to share that information,” he said. “I thought about wrestling a lot and how I really didn’t accomplish the goals that I would have liked to, and I wanted to help other people. I had this desire to try to help. I felt like I had a knack for it.”
After his first year as an assistant coach, Dundee changed wrestling head coaches and Jim Wittibslager got the job. Roberts asked him if he could stay on as an assistant.
Wittibslager is a hall of fame coach in his own right. He compiled a record of 333-36-3 in two stints as the Dundee head coach. The Vikings won four straight MHSAA Finals titles during his tenure, from 1995-98.
“We went from a team 4-21 with zero state qualifiers, and by the fifth year we were state champs with 14 state qualifiers,” Roberts said. “It was quite a building process. It was lot of fun to go through and learn. Winning state went from an impossible dream to something that ‘Oh yeah, we could do this.’ We built ourselves into that level.”
Coaching with Wittibslager was a career-changer for Roberts.
“That was crucial in my development in how to coach,” he said. “I thought I had a knack for helping people and I had a little talent in that area, but I learned so much about what it takes, the work ethic and how to win and how to think like a winner.”
Admittedly, Roberts isn’t the same coach he was two decades ago. The sport has evolved significantly.
“I don’t coach now like I did 20 years ago, I’ll say that,” he said. “You grow with the times or you get left behind.”
What hasn’t changed during that time is Roberts’ attention to detail, his passion for coaching the right technique and getting his team ready for meets. Practices now include time in the weight room, warming up with some gymnastics moves such as back handstands, leaps and cartwheels; and, of course, technique.
“We still do conditioning,” he said. “We do quite a bit of that.”
Roberts believes one thing that sets wrestlers apart from each other is how far they can push themselves on the mat – when they reach the point where they feel they don’t have any more strength or ability, they find it.
“The only way you know if you can (push yourself) is by getting (to that point). That, as much as anything, will win you matches,” he said.
Maintaining that success has never been easy. Dundee typically has about 20 wrestlers out each year, a comparably low number to some other high-level programs. But that is where Roberts does his best work. Coaching at the high school level, he said, isn’t about coaching extraordinary athletes – it’s about coaching the average ones.
“It’s been an endless process for 20 years to keep trying to get better at this,” he said. “Average people are who you are coaching. That’s what coaching high school is, I think, learning how to work with the average person. Then, once in a while, you get to work with the exceptional person and that’s fun.”
Despite the enormous success during his 20 seasons at Dundee, Roberts has experienced the same highs and lows as any other coach.
“Lots of highs and lows,” he said. “Lots of times of feeling great, then you get humbled. Then you start feeling great again and then humbled again.”
Roberts coached Dundee to a Division 4 championship in 2001 and Division 3 titles in 2007, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018. Last year’s team was ranked nationally and had 14 Individual Finals qualifiers.
“Every one of those (championships) is like the best day of my life,” Roberts said. “Every time. It’s such a great feeling in the end that it all came together, and everything did work, and you did get it all done. A lot of things have to go right. It’s not easy.”
Roberts, 50, isn’t planning on stepping away from coaching any time soon. He’s also not stopping to think about reaching 500 career wins any time soon. He’d rather think about that high school wrestler who missed out on winning a state championship – but has had a remarkable impact on so many others.
“That’s for when you are done (coaching),” he said. “Right now, I’m still trying to get better and trying to work on my weaknesses as a coach and always seeking out how I can be better at this. When you’re done is when you get to reflect.”
Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTO: Dundee wrestling coach Tim Roberts and his team celebrate one of the many successful moments during his two decades leading the program. (Photo by David Schankin.)
Preview: Annual Favorites Lead Title March, But Challengers Set to Pursue
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 22, 2024
There’s no debating that a handful of annual powerhouses have ruled the MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals over the last decade.
But this weekend's edition at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo is filled with intriguing possibilities for those favorites to be challenged.
Yes, Lowell has won 10 straight championships in Division 2, Dundee has won six straight in Division 3, Hudson is seeking a three-peat in Division 4, and a repeat for Detroit Catholic Central in Division 1 would give the Shamrocks 17 team championships overall.
But consider:
In Division 1, DCC could face a 2023 Finals rematch with undefeated Hartland. In Division 2, Lowell is joined by three undefeated contenders plus a second-seeded Freeland team seeking its first title. Dundee also may find itself in a 2023 Finals rematch, with Whitehall. And Hudson certainly has an eye on St. Louis, which is seeded second in Division 4 for the second-straight season and seeking its first title as well.
And that’s just glancing at a handful of the 28 teams total seeking to dethrone last year’s four title winners.
Competition begins Friday at noon with the first of four sets of Quarterfinals. Semifinals are Saturday morning and early afternoon, with championship matches on four adjacent mats at 3:45 p.m. Brackets for all four divisions, links to buy tickets and watch online can be found here. Click here to check out the program, and see below for glances at all 32 hopefuls, listed by division and seed. (Weight classes beginning with “G” are from the girls division of the Individual Wrestling Finals.)
Division 1
#1 DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 1
League finish: First in Catholic High School League Central
Coach: Mitch Hancock, 17th season (380-58)
Championship history: Sixteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2023), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Ryan Totten (42-9) fr., 113 Gregory Jamison (36-6) fr., 113 Wyatt Lees (43-5) soph., 120 Mack Moscovic (32-8) fr., 120 Nathan Walkowiak (27-11) jr., 126 Simon Dominguez (30-11) sr., 126 Grayson Fuchs (36-5) fr., 132 Michael Cannon (23-16) sr., 150 Mason Stewart (44-3) sr., 157 Darius Marines (43-0) sr., 175 Andrew White (30-13) jr., 190 Lee Krueger (37-5) jr., 215 Connor Bercume (37-3) jr., 285 Ben Eziuka (30-11) soph.
Outlook: DCC turned its seventh-straight championship match appearance last year into its first Division 1 championship since 2020, and the Shamrocks are the only team at this Finals sending a full 14 qualifiers to Ford Field next weekend. Eight of those qualifiers are repeat contenders from a year ago. Marines will be wrestling for his fourth individual championship, while Bercume and Lees also were Finals champions in 2023, Stewart was a runner-up and Walkowiak and Krueger were placers.
#2 HARTLAND
Record/rank: 31-0, No. 2
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Coach: Kyle Summerfield, third season (87-4)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2016, six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Brayden Tougas (39-5) fr., 120 Ashton Jewell (36-8) fr., 126 Bohdan Abbey (51-0) soph., 126 Ty Biggert (40-9) jr., 132 Dallas Korponic (46-5) soph., 138 Easton Culver (23-1) jr., 150 Vinnie Abbey (45-3) sr., 150 Colin Jewell (40-6) sr., 157 Joseph Cappellano (36-8) soph., 165 James Butzier (41-8) sr., 175 Will Darish (31-13) sr., 215 Jacob Pretzel (41-4) sr.
Outlook: The seasoned Eagles start seven seniors and three juniors and emerged from a league that also included No. 3 seed Brighton as they attempt to take the final step after finishing runner-up to DCC a year ago. Hartland also defeated No. 7 Clarkston during this tournament run. Bohdan Abbey was last season’s champion at 113 and is a combined 95-3 over his first two, while Vinnie Abbey was last year’s runner-up at 157 and Korponic and Culver also placed in 2023.
#3 BRIGHTON
Record/rank: 26-2, No. 4
League finish: Second in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Coach: Shawn Scott, fourth season (82-27)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2015, runner-up 2019 and 2018.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Ethan Smith (43-7) soph., 106 Jameson Wood (25-11) fr., 113 Drake Pollins (30-10) soph., 144 Kaden Tindall (37-15) soph., 150 Xander Courneya (36-12) soph., 165 Zak Knapp (45-4) sr., 215 Sean O’Keefe (38-8) jr., G-115 Rayna Richardson (15-2) fr., G-190 Sabrina Nauss (5-0) sr.
Outlook: Brighton is back at Finals weekend for the first time since 2020, and has won District titles all four seasons under Scott – who previously assisted at Kent State. Knapp, Smith and junior Easton Hardesty (132, 28-2) were Finals placers last season, and Nauss is a two-time individual champion. Smith is one of five sophomore starters, and four of those five will wrestle at Ford Field next weekend.
#4 ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 29-3, No. 5
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Brian Richardson, 15th season (338-127)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2009), three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Layne Martin (41-6) fr., 132 Liam Fitzpatrick (37-11) soph., 144 James Diel (39-9) sr., 175 Louis Bosscher (34-9) sr., 175 Logan Hammingh (33-12) soph., 285 Ryan Ahern (44-0) sr., G-145 Hailee Budrick (8-0) sr.
Outlook: The Rams reached the Semifinals as the third seed last season, and they’re returning to championship weekend for the fifth time over the last six years. The lineup is anchored by five seniors and five juniors, and Ahern was the individual runner-up at 190 last season while junior Braylenn Aulbach (138, 38-10) and Budrick also were placers.
#5 TEMPERANCE BEDFORD
Record/rank: 24-4, No. 3
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference
Coach: Kevin Vogel, 13th season (310-69)
Championship history: Eleven MHSAA championships (most recent 2001), seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Cody Duvendack (41-6) fr., 113 Tristan King (36-13) soph., 138 Lucas Gerber (34-17) jr., 144 Noah Benore (42-9) jr., 165 Zach Miracle (43-7) soph., 215 Conner Green (32-4) sr., 285 Chase Norbury (45-3) jr.
Outlook: Bedford moved up two seeds from last season in reaching the Finals for the third straight, and defeated No. 10 Westland John Glenn on the way to Kalamazoo. While the team has three seniors and five juniors among starters, it also starts five sophomores with five more serving as key reserves. King, Benore and Green all are returning individual qualifiers.
#6 DAVISON
Record/rank: 19-5, No. 6
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Coach: Drew Dixon, first season (19-5)
Championship history: Ten MHSAA championships (most recent 2022), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Steve Vaughn (29-8) fr., 126 Calvin Martz (31-7) soph., 132 Dominic Perez (10-1) jr., 138 Julius Pacheco (17-7) fr., 144 Justin Gates (35-2) sr., 144 Tanner McDunnah (29-6) jr., 150 Kyle Jelinek (23-7) jr., 157 Bryan Shanks (29-19) sr., 165 Brayden Bundy (18-11) soph., 190 Charlie Armstead (28-13) sr., 215 Brandon Glisson (30-16) soph., 285 Alexander Holmes (34-11) sr.
Outlook: Davison is continuing its run of Finals appearances under first-year coach Dixon, who previously served as an assistant at St. Clair County Community College and inherited a program only a year removed from winning back-to-back Division 1 titles. Gates is the reigning champion at 138 and will wrestle for his third Finals individual title next weekend, while Jelinek is a two-time returning placer. Davison defeated No. 8 Oxford during its District run.
#7 MACOMB DAKOTA
Record/rank: 21-2, No. 9
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Coach: Ed Skowneski, 12th season (315-66)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Ethan Smith (43-7) soph., 113 Carl Nihranz (42-2) soph., 132 Jake Gawlowski (36-7) sr., 138 Ozia Wilson (44-2) jr., 150 Dominic de Mesa (37-8) sr., 190 Logan Criteser (37-4) jr., 215 Brady Hamby (35-6) jr., 285 Brad Haver (40-5) sr.
Outlook: After a season away, Dakota is back at Finals weekend for the 10th time under Skowneski and with a starting lineup that will graduate only four this spring. Those four seniors all have at least 35 wins, Connor Palazzolo (144, 35-7) joining the three noted above. He’s also one of four returning Finals placers, joined by Nihranz, Gawlowski and Criteser, and Wilson was the runner-up at 103 as a freshman.
#8 WARREN MOTT
Record/rank: 14-4, unranked
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference White
Coach: Paul Salyers, ninth season (129-52)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Cameron Leone (31-7) jr., 132 Kiet Tran (32-11) sr., 138 Adil Salam (27-13) sr., 144 John Kaminski (36-11) soph., 150 Jude Kaptur (33-17) sr., 165 Paul Khamo (39-6) sr., G-125 Megan Melnyk (20-8) jr., G-125 Makayla Perdue-Daniels (18-9) jr.
Outlook: Mott has won league and District titles all but two seasons under Salyers, a past individual runner-up at Sandusky, and now he’ll take the Marauders to the Team Finals for the first time. He’ll bring a lineup starting eight seniors of 14 total on the team. Perdue-Daniels placed sixth at girls 125 last season.
Division 2
#1 LOWELL
Record/rank: 19-3, No. 1
League finish: First in O-K White
Coach: R.J. Boudro, 10th season (190-30)
Championship history: Thirteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2023), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Cole Cichocki (20-12) fr., 106 Jarrett Smith (32-1) soph., 113 Braddock King (21-14) jr., 120 Carter Cichocki (23-9) fr., 132 Jackson Blum (28-1) jr., 132 Logan Dawson (27-10) soph., 138 Trevor Boone (25-11) soph., 144 Owen Segorski (27-6) jr., 150 Tacho Gonzales (21-14) sr., 157 Jared Boone (27-8) sr., 190 Casey Engle (26-9) jr.
Outlook: Lowell’s record championship streak stands at 10. The Red Arrows defeated No. 7 Hamilton during this latest tournament run and have an experienced group despite only four seniors in the anticipated starting lineup. Blum was last season’s individual champion at 120, while Segorski was runner-up at 138, Carter Cichocki was runner-up at 113, and Dawson and Smith also placed.
#2 FREELAND
Record/rank: 23-2, No. 2
League finish: Second in Tri-Valley Conference Red
Coach: Scott VanLuven, fourth season (89-20)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Easton Rosebush (26-14) soph., 126 Malachi Hill (38-5) jr., 144 Ty Fournier (32-8) sr., 150 Fabian Facundo (40-0) jr., 157 Noah Graham (42-2) sr., 165 Gibson Shepard (37-5) sr., 175 Elijah Murphy (29-8) sr., G-140 Violet Cabrera (10-4) jr.
Outlook: Freeland has won four Districts under VanLuven and is making its second trip to the Finals under his leadership, thanks in part to a 31-27 win over No. 3 Bay City John Glenn in the District Final. The Falcons also defeated frequent contender Gaylord to clinch the Regional. Seven seniors lead this group, and Facundo was a Division 3 individual runner-up for Alma as a freshman.
#3 THREE RIVERS
Record/rank: 29-0, No. 5
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Coach: Jeff Smith, eighth season (116-75)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Kale Parr (41-13) fr., 126 Ethan Moreland (48-4) fr., 132 Ayden Keller (49-4) jr., 150 Evan Harper (36-13) fr., 150 Landon Moreland (46-6) jr., 157 Braylon Faile (38-12) fr., 165 Louis Smith (48-1) soph., 175 Jeremiah Detwiler (44-7) sr., 190 Jaxon Smith (49-3) soph.
Outlook: Three Rivers will be making its second Finals appearance, and first since 2001, and the Wildcats are a combined 54-2 over the last two seasons. They made it here in part thanks to a Regional Semifinal win over No. 9 Stevensville Lakeshore. Detwiler was a Finals placer last season, and he’s the lone senior starter in a lineup that includes 10 underclassmen.
#4 MASON
Record/rank: 23-0, No. 4
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Red
Coach: Brian Martel, 21st season (600-118)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2006), one runner-up finish.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Darius Ambs (32-6) soph., 126 Matt Ausel (13-3) jr., 144 Tex Smith (31-3) sr., 150 Jadyn Grimes (31-7) sr., 157 Gavin Vankirk (31-5) jr., 165 AJ Martel (16-1) sr., 175 Derek Badgley (35-2) sr., 215 Grant Gilchrist (27-9) sr.
Outlook: Brian Martel was Mason’s coach for its 2004 runner-up finish and Division 2 titles the following two seasons, and he has the Bulldogs on another nice run with the last five seasons including five league, four District and three Regional titles. Grimes and Badgley were Finals placers last season and are among six senior starters. AJ Martel finished his football career in the fall as the school’s all-time leading rusher, and he recently was named an MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award winner.
#5 MONROE JEFFERSON
Record/rank: 28-0, No. 6
League finish: First in Huron League
Coach: Ryan Nadeau, second season (46-2)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Tyler Vanderpool (38-15) jr., 126 Ty Rose (46-8) sr., 132 Issac Masserant (41-8) sr., Ryder Mulherin (48-12) jr., 144 Carter Simota (53-3) sr., 150 Vladimir Uhlik (31-11) sr., 157 Martre Pearson (46-8) sr., 215 Anthony Cousino (48-5) sr., G-120 Morgan Simota (7-2) soph.
Outlook: Jefferson has moved up two seeds from last season’s Finals appearance as the Bears return for the fourth-straight year. Few have as experienced a lineup, as last year’s junior-heavy group has turned into 10 senior starters with three more juniors and a sophomore filling things out. Six of this season’s individual qualifiers also reached Ford Field in 2023.
#6 GREENVILLE
Record/rank: 35-5, No. 8
League finish: Second in O-K White
Coach: Brett Peterman, third season (100-17)
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2008, runner-up 2011.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Kamden Witte (39-7) jr., 144 Alex Buskirk (41-3) soph., 150 Liam Dailey (37-5) sr., 165 Naythan Dobson (35-4) sr., 165 Casey Eberspeaker (39-8) sr., 190 Nick Earles (31-10) sr., 215 Case Johnson (47-2) jr.
Outlook: Peterman has led Greenville to at least 31 wins all three of his seasons guiding the program, and now to its first Finals weekend since 2013. Ten starters have at least 30 wins, including all seven Individual Finals qualifiers. Dobson, Buskirk, Dailey and Johnson all were individual placers last season.
#7 LAKE FENTON
Record/rank: 41-5, unranked
League finish: Tied for first in Flint Metro League
Coach: Vance Corcoran, 14th season (395-125)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2011.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Marvin Jorge (49-6) sr., 120 Clay Cook (55-1) sr., 126 Robby Moore (52-7) sr., 138 Drew Corcoran (54-6) sr., 150 Noah Hall (55-3) sr., 190 Josh Ezell (45-13) jr.
Outlook: This is Lake Fenton’s fifth trip to Finals weekend under Corcoran, and first since 2017. The other four came in Division 3, but the Blue Devils have begun to make their move in Division 2 as well and bring a lineup to Kalamazoo with nine senior starters including five of the individual qualifiers noted above. Hall and Cook were Finals placers last season.
#8 BLOOMFIELD HILLS BROTHER RICE
Record/rank: 17-7, unranked
League finish: Second in Catholic High School League Central
Coach: Scott Kolesky, fifth season (90-39)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Richard Davis (44-2) soph., 126 Ricardo Saenz (45-2) jr., 144 Deacon MacNeill (41-3) soph., Alex Rabban (30-18) jr., Caleb Steele (44-7) soph.
Outlook: Brother Rice has strung together three straight Finals appearances and has plenty to look forward to with only two senior starters but six sophomores and two freshmen in the lineup. Davis, Saenz and MacNeill all placed at last season’s Individual Finals, Saenz for the second straight.
Division 3
#1 DUNDEE
Record/rank: 15-5, No. 1
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Co-coaches: Garrett Stevens & Nate Hall, second seasons (34-7)
Championship history: Fifteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2023), eight runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Mason Katschor (40-6) fr., 113 Mason Haines (25-12) soph., 113 Haydn Nutt (32-7) soph., 120 Braden Broderick (11-1) soph., 126 Wyatt Burns (20-9) fr., 126 Kade Kluce (24-9) sr., 132 Cameron Chinavare (32-2) sr., 138 Jeremy Amrhein (26-9) soph., 144 Blake Cosby (37-1) soph., 150 Donny Beaufait (34-8) soph., 150 Trey Parker (28-12) sr., 157 Kole Katschor (38-6) jr.
Outlook: As Dundee attempts to extend its Division 3 championship streak to seven, there are eight underclassmen in the lineup – which is more bad news for everyone else as the Vikings remain the team to chase. Kluce will wrestle next weekend for a fourth individual championship and is the reigning champ at 120, and Chinavare will attempt to win his third title after claiming 126 a year ago. Nutt (106) and Kole Katschor (150) also were 2023 champions, while Cosby was the runner-up at 144 and Broderick, Beaufait, Parker and sophomore Rocco Redmon (175, 25-15) were placers.
#2 WHITEHALL
Record/rank: 27-3, No. 2
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference Lakes
Coach: Justin Zeerip, sixth season (160-15)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2023 and 2021, Class C runner-up 1984.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Cody Manzo (39-7) soph., 113 Kolten Weiler (33-13) soph., 120 Max Krukowski (31-12) soph., 126 Nolan Taranko (43-5) sr., 138 Ryne Christensen (40-6) sr., 144 Liam Leeke (37-11) fr., 150 Darnell Mack (47-0) sr., 157 Ryan Goodrich (42-5) jr., 175 Gavin Craner (47-0) jr., 215 Blake Morningstar (35-12) sr.; 285 Jason Smith (24-10) sr.
Outlook: Whitehall outwrestled its third seed last season to reach the championship match, and a combined 10 seniors and juniors returned to anchor all but one weight from 126 up. Mack and Goodrich were Finals placers last season when the team had five individual qualifiers – compared to 11 this trip, including all four underclassmen starters.
#3 CLINTON
Record/rank: 26-5, No. 4
League finish: Third in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Casey Randolph, 11th season (292-61)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2021), one runner-up finish.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Nate Arntz (31-8) sr., 126 Braylon Long (39-4) jr., 132 Connor Younts (50-2) sr., 138 Maurice Ames (42-6) sr., 150 Cliff Jones (40-8) soph., Bryce Randolph (49-2) soph., Wyatt Hicks (40-13) sr., 285 Hamza Rafferty (40-10) jr.
Outlook: This will be Clinton’s eighth-straight trip to Finals weekend, and the team enters one seed higher than a year ago. The lineup has five seniors but also seven underclassmen including five straight wrestling from 150-190. Randolph, Long, Younts and Ames were individual placers last season, and Younts was the 103-pound champion in Division 4 as a freshman.
#4 CONSTANTINE
Record/rank: 25-2, No. 5
League finish: Tied for first in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Dale Davidhizar III, ninth season (215-71)
Championship history: 1993 Class C-D champion, 2002 Division 3 runner-up.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 132 Bear Geibe (42-7) soph., 132 Preston Like (35-9) jr., 138 Koltin Gross (36-6) jr., 157 Brody Jones (43-4) jr., 175 Dathan Smith (38-13) sr., 190 Gregg Reed (38-8) sr., 285 Bennett VandenBerg (48-0) sr., G-140 Shayla Nickoson (19-7) jr.
Outlook: Constantine also moved up a seed in returning to the Finals for the fourth-straight season, and a lineup that was young the last two seasons now boasts six senior and four junior starters. The Falcons also have nearly doubled last season’s five Individual Finals qualifiers with eight this time. VandenBerg was the runner-up at 215 last year, and Jones placed seventh at 144.
#5 HART
Record/rank: 26-6, No. 7
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference Rivers
Coach: Rocky Smith, first season (26-6)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Kole Thomas (40-7) fr., 144 JoseLuis Andaverde (42-12) sr., 157 Josue Salgado Velazquez (42-7) sr., 175 Alex Hicks (45-4) jr., 215 Ivan Lara (36-7) sr.
Outlook: Hart has a first-year head coach for the second-straight season and continues to rise. Smith is a 1996 grad and served as an assistant for a decade, and his first Pirates team has moved up three seeds from a year ago as it makes the trip for the fifth-straight season. Velazquez and Hicks also qualified for the Individual Finals last season.
#6 YALE
Record/rank: 21-6, No. 6
League finish: Tied for first in Blue Water Area Conference
Coach: Rob Majcher, 11th season (158-163)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Gable Majcher (38-5) fr., 113 Chase Sopha (35-12) fr., 120 Landon Sopha (45-5) jr., 126 Kersten McClelland (40-12) soph., 157 Jeremy Griffith (42-3) sr., 175 Cole McLaughlin (42-6) jr. G-100 Gianna Hoskins (18-2) fr., G-130 Madison Mason (15-8) sr., G-235 Grace Warnke (4-7) fr.
Outlook: Yale is making its second trip to Finals weekend and first since 1990 after defeating No. 9 Otisville LakeVille Memorial in the District and No. 8 Richmond and No. 3 Algonac in the Regional. It’s been arguably the most impressive run in any division to get to Kalamazoo, and Yale did it with only three seniors in the lineup but seven more junior starters also helping to anchor. Griffith and Landon Sopha both were individual placers last season.
#7 GLADSTONE
Record/rank: 18-1, No. 10
League finish: First in Mid-Peninsula Conference
Coach: Jeff Brazeau, fifth season (79-16)
Championship history: Upper Peninsula Finals champion 1987, two UP Finals runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 126 Drew Hanson (42-1) sr., 150 Austin Solis (37-2) sr., 175 Trevor Thorbahn (37-6) soph.
Outlook: Gladstone has run its Regional title streak to three and continues to stack experience with a lineup this weekend including only four senior starters and also four freshmen. Hanson and Solis were Individual Finals placers last season, Hanson finishing third at his weight for the second straight.
#8 LAKE ODESSA LAKEWOOD
Record/rank: 24-6, unranked
League finish: Second in Capital Area Activities Conference White
Coach: Anthony Harmer, sixth season
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Vincent Stamm (31-8) fr., 126 Kade Boucher (28-10) jr., 138 Bryson Boucher (32-12) fr., 144 Jonathan Krebs (36-2) sr., 215 Joel Simon (32-2) jr.
Outlook: Lakewood has won five league and three District titles under 2001 grad Harmer, and now will return to Finals weekend for the first time since 2017. The Vikings also start only three seniors but four juniors, including Simon who finished third at 215 last season.
Division 4
#1 HUDSON
Record/rank: 24-4, No. 1
League finish: Second in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Scott Marry, 36th season (914-205)
Championship history: 10 MHSAA championships (most recent 2023), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jaxton Kimling (19-21) fr., 113 Chase Clark (28-13) fr., 120 Colt Perry (16-7) soph., 120 Nicholas Sorrow (45-1) soph., 126 Julien Kimling (36-10) jr., 126 Owen Loop (28-19) fr., 138 Cole Marry (41-8) sr., 144 Coy Perry (42-6) sr., 150 Austin Marry (35-7) sr., 157 Jacob Pickford (30-14) jr., 175 Logan Ryan (34-9) sr., 190 Barron Mansfield (22-18) jr., G-105 Grace Miller (19-13) fr.
Outlook: The Tigers keep rolling as they pursue a third-straight title and sixth over the last eight seasons, with the forecast very similar to last year’s heading into Finals weekend. Scott Marry remains the winningest active coach and second-winningest overall, 67 dual victories behind retired record holder Bruce Bittenbender. Coy Perry and Sorrow were Individual Finals champions a year ago, and Austin Marry, Cole Marry, Julien Kimling, Colt Perry, Ryan and Pickford were placers.
#2 ST. LOUIS
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 2
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference Blue
Coach: Kevin Kuhn, 17th season (345-108)
Championship history: Class C-D runner-up 1995.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Owen Fogel (47-2) soph., 113 Paul Eldredge (19-8) soph., 113 Alex Rodriguez (41-2) soph., 120 Genaro Soto (30-9) jr., 126 Colin Kuhn (46-3) jr., 126 Ben March (19-13) sr., 132 Laythan Haworth (42-9) soph., 144 Martine Wiggins (43-6) jr., 157 Drew Challender (42-6) soph., 190 Udter Tweh (27-13) sr., 215 Ramon Anguiano (34-12) sr., G-100 Olesya Mullins (34-2) soph.
Outlook: St. Louis is the second seed for the second-straight season and will look to build on runs to the Semifinals the last two years. The Sharks defeated No. 10 Lakeview to advance to Kalamazoo. Rodriguez was the Individual Finals runner-up at 113 last season and Colin Kuhn and Fogel both placed at 106, while Mullins finished sixth in the girls 100 class.
#3 BENZIE CENTRAL
Record/rank: 25-4, No. 3
League finish: Tied for first in Northwest Conference
Co-coaches: Cody Vandonkelaar, second season (50-8); Josh Lovendusky, 11th season (159-138)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Dayne Gillison (35-8) soph., 120 Benjamin Deridder (35-9) jr., 132 Nathan Higgins (18-8) jr., 138 Jacob Gillison (42-7) sr., 138 Joe Morse (30-14) sr., 144 Owen Cruden (40-10) sr., 150 Dalton Geetings (34-15) sr., 157 Tyrone Brouillet (37-16) sr., 157 Conner Wenkel (34-15) jr., 175 Danny Wallington (19-10) sr., 190 Michael Pfeiffer (31-9) sr., 215 Lane Sanchez (36-12) soph., 285 Ryan Kincaid (35-14) sr., G-130 Cambrie Lawrence (20-7) sr.
Outlook: After making the Finals for the first time last season, as the seventh seed and nearly upsetting the second-seeded Sharks, Benzie has moved up to the third seed this weekend with eight returning Individual Finals qualifiers as well. Gillison was seventh at 138 last season, Pfeiffer was eighth at 175 and Lawrence was seventh at girls 125.
#4 BRONSON
Record/rank: 28-8, No. 4
League finish: Second in Big 8 Conference
Coach: Chad Butters, 11th season (290-74)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2023, 2003 and 2002.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 126 Owen Kimmons (38-11) jr., 150 Gabriel Erwin (38-6) soph., 157 Layne Knisely (47-6) soph., 165 Mason Lindsey (47-5) jr., 175 Carson Norton (47-6) sr.; 190 Jacob Britten (44-6) sr., G-135 Mackenna Webster (27-2) soph.
Outlook: Bronson finished above its seed last season, reaching the championship match for the first time in two decades and after entering as the third seed for the second-straight year. Just like last winter, Bronson advanced in part this time by defeating No. 5 Union City in the District Final. Norton, Britten, Knisely and Webster all are returning Individual Finals placers from last season.
#5 MANCHESTER
Record/rank: 28-7, No. 6
League finish: First in Cascades Conference
Coach: Steve Vlcek, 34th season (729-37)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2008.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Onyx Ostrom (40-9) jr., 126 Sammy Stewart (51-1) soph., 138 Nathan Meyer (40-10) jr., 144 Blake Sloan (47-5) soph., 165 Drake Neff (28-24) jr., 175 Gunner Carson (48-4) jr., 215 Nathan Fletcher (39-12) jr., 285 Dylan Gauss (34-13) jr.
Outlook: After returning to the Finals last season with a lineup filled with underclassmen, Manchester is much more experienced this trip, with several juniors setting the program up for a potentially strong 2025 run as well. Stewart won the individual championship at 113 last season, while Ostrom was eighth at 106 and Carson was eighth at 157. Vlcek is up to 10th on the all-time coaching wins list.
#6 IRON MOUNTAIN
Record/rank: 15-2, unranked
League finish: Second in Mid-Peninsula Conference
Coach: Cory McLaren, seventh season (88-49)
Championship history: Five Upper Peninsula Finals championships, three UP Finals runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Alexander Wilson (34-6) sr., 126 Di’Angelo Saldana (24-16) soph., 126 Tyler Winch (39-2) sr., 138 Daniel Manier (29-4) jr., 165 Fulton Stroud (32-2) sr., 165 Bradon Walstrom (24-10) sr., G-105 Shayna Hruska (20-10) sr.
Outlook: Eight senior starters lead the Mountaineers back to Wings and a few spots higher after the team was seeded eighth a year ago. Stroud and Wilson were repeat Finals placers last season – Stroud the runner-up at 165 and Winch fourth at 126 – and Hruska was seventh at girls 105.
#7 CLIMAX-SCOTTS/MARTIN
Record/rank: 26-5, No. 8
League finish: Tied for first in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Logan Curry, second season (55-9)
Championship history: Martin was Class D champion in 1998, with three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Logan Gilbert (45-3) jr., 120 Cole Reitz (33-10) jr., 126 Jayce Ritchie (26-3) jr., 132 Haylen Buell (38-4) soph., 144 Jack Bagwell (47-10) jr., 215 Sam Bleeker (34-13) jr.
Outlook: CSM – a cooperative formed in 2015 – is making a return trip to the Finals after defeating No. 7 Decatur and No. 9 White Pigeon to win the Regional title. Gilbert was the runner-up last season at 106 after winning the 103 individual title as a freshman, and Buell also was a runner-up last winter at 132 while Ritchie placed fourth at 120.
#8 SAGINAW MICHIGAN LUTHERAN SEMINARY
Record/rank: 20-10, unranked
League finish: Fourth in TVC Blue
Coach: Joshua Wakefield, second season (38-26)
Championship history: Class D runner-up 1975.
Individual Finals qualifier: 190 Ethan Wakefield (41-4) jr.
Outlook: MLS is coming off its first Regional championship since that 1975 runner-up season, giving the TVC Blue two teams in this bracket, and did so while giving up a weight. The future could be even brighter, with Ethan Wakefield just a junior and only three seniors – but six freshmen – in the starting lineup.
PHOTOS (Top) St. Louis works toward a pin during a match against Chesaning this season. (Middle) Greenville, right, faces off against Mount Pleasant. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)